Stacking?

[Deejayry]

I've just been flicking through some of the macro photos in the photo sharing section and i've noticed the term "stacking" comming up in several of the posts.

i'm basicly wondering what the meaning of this term is, i've got a bit of a background in astrophotography and we use the term stacking for when 2 or more (usually 10+) frames are aligned with each other and then combined, usually averaged in some way. this technique averages out noise and alows you to tweak a bit more detail out compared to a single frame.

Is this the technique used or does it refer to stacking macro rings to bring the focal range closer to the lens?

[JBravo920]

It is stacking images together in editing software, the same as you're used to. Usually for macros it is to gain a greater depth of field.

[LordV]

Similar to astronomy stacking except the focus points are different- you are stacking the photos to gain DOF not reduce noise.

see http://www.wonderfulphotos.com/articles/macro/focus_stacking/

Brian V.

[Warl0rd]

LordV, how do you do stacking? handheld, tripod?

will continuous shoot while getting closer be good? (if the flash keeps firing...)

or is it better to take 1 shoot at the time?

another question, its better to get close (and risking changing prespective) or change the focus on the lens (loosing some magnification)?

[LordV]

LordV, how do you do stacking? handheld, tripod?

will continuous shoot while getting closer be good? (if the flash keeps firing...)

or is it better to take 1 shoot at the time?

another question, its better to get close (and risking changing prespective) or change the focus on the lens (loosing some magnification)?
I take shots without a tripod but rest the camera on anything i can use (often myself).

No I take shots singly but quickly (about 1 per second) you need to judge the next focus point
Not sure it actually makes a huge difference (the fov will change in both cases) but i actually use fixed focus move camera to focus.

Brian V.

[MrContact]

No I take shots singly but quickly (about 1 per second) you need to judge the next focus point
Not sure it actually makes a huge difference (the fov will change in both cases) but i actually use fixed focus move camera to focus.

Brian V.

Do you stack using the MP-E quite often or some of your other lenses?
Also, do you generally align the pictures by hand, or let the program run it for ya?

[LordV]

Do you stack using the MP-E quite often or some of your other lenses?
Also, do you generally align the pictures by hand, or let the program run it for ya?

Tend to mainly use focus stacking with the MPE-65 because of the DOF issues at high mag, but do frequently stack with just my 1:1 macro lens- have even stacked shots using a wide angle lens (ie landscape stuff).
I probably stack 50:50 by hand : software stacking - depends on the subject type and how still I was or the subject was. More likely to use software stacking of static subjects requiring many shots - eg flowers
Brian V.